"We've arrived at the point of the season where I expected to be competitive and become comfortable and be finding my groove but it has been the opposite."

Staring is confident of an improved result at his home grand prix.

"I've done more laps at Phillip Island than any other circuit in the world, so I certainly have a lot of experience here," he said.

"It's a small advantage but I'll take anything I can get at the moment."

There will be a new winner at Phillip Island this year, with Stoner having won every race at the Victorian circuit since 2007.

Staring says despite the fact Stoner has retired from the sport, people are still keen to talk about the former world champion.

"All the PR I've done in the lead up to this (Australian MotoGP) has been based around the Casey Stoner question and I'm fine with that, he was obviously enormously successful," he said.

"I'm certainly not offended to be asked about Casey."

Staring is without a ride for 2014 but says despite his disappointing year he has had interest from other teams.

"My options are open, but probably the most realistic for me is superbikes," he said.

"But like I say, it is really too early to know for sure but I've started speaking with a few of the teams and to be fair there was a little bit more interest around myself than I expected after a bad year so that was one positive so far."

Spanish rider Marc Marquez has a 43-point championship lead with three races remaining, meaning he could seal the title in Australia and become the first rookie to win the championship in 35 years.